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UK light heavyweight Buatsi earned a win yet disappointing start to life under recent management with a unanimous decision over Parker in Manchester.

The Olympic bronze medallist's punch output appeared to earn him a majority decision in a competitive ten-round bout at the Manchester venue.

But Parker found success, landing some telling individual punches in a match where the styles failed to mesh, with constant grabbing spoiling the fight.

The officials judged it 96-94 in favor to Buatsi, with the final judge a 95-95 draw.

"It wasn't my finest display but what defines champions? They prevail," the victor stated in the ringside as he was faced disapproval from the spectators.

The British fighter returned to winning ways after his first professional defeat - an memorable fight with his previous opponent in February - to claim a 20th career victory.

Several boxing experts felt Parker, 31, merited the decision but the contender endured the second setback of his 28-fight professional journey.

Buatsi Earns Win in Slow Encounter

The fighter's advancement has plateaued in recent years through contract problems and long spells of inactivity.

Previously predicted as the future of the British fight scene, he now stands trying to fulfil that early promise - perhaps in what seems like a ultimate opportunity - under fresh management.

He started carefully, with both competitors prepared to overcommit in a tentative initial rounds.

Parker, whose only previous defeat came at the lower weight class against John Ryder in two years ago after damaging his hand mid-fight, was making just his second fight at light-heavyweight.

By the fight's midpoint, Parker had stayed in contention, making life awkward for Buatsi, who operated with a protective stance to edge the cleaner stanzas.

The crowd's patience decreased amid regular grabbing, with the challenger going down several times during grappling.

The underdog ended stronger, but many rounds were challenging to assess. Although, former world champion Carl Frampton - commentating on the broadcast network - had it significantly in favor for the challenger, awarding Buatsi just a single round.

Buatsi moves on, but with the likes of power puncher Benavidez, and Russian champion Bivol dominating the weight class, the path to championship success - on this evidence - still appears challenging.

Ricky Hatton Memorial Fuels Local Rivalry Fight

In the co-main event, Lyndon Arthur defeated Rea by divided decision in a outstanding Manchester vs Manchester contest to capture the continental belt.

The venue fell silent for a extremely emotional homage before the fight as 10 bells rang in honor of Manchester's own Ricky Hatton, who succumbed 46 years old in recently.

It was the initial significant broadcast boxing event in the city since Hatton's passing. As the concluding sound faded, the stillness became a shout of "there's only one Hatton".

The competition during the bout reflected the sentiment. The eventual winner was knocked down by a left hook directly to the face in the early round, standing uncertainly to his footing on the referee's count.

But the traditional red shorts of Arthur soon pressed ahead again. Across the ring, Rea - in rival City blue - was marked up soon, significant bruising developing under his face as the pair landed powerful shots.

The challenger, twenty-seven, landed power punches but Arthur, thirty-four, matched the intensity with effective uppercuts as the action seldom decreased over the full distance.

Arthur narrowly won the verdict with scoring tallies of even score, narrow lead and 115-112, but both fighters were determined and full of heart, exactly what their idol the legend represented.